Pushed into business?

[Ropinamoment]

I'm in a rough spot and need some sound opinions and advice. This will be long, thanks to those that get through it all!

I found a love for photography when I got my first digital camera. I had a cheapo camera as a kid, but I didn't always have money for developing and such, but when I got a digital at age 25, I has thrilled with the options. Over the last several years, I've snapped away and friends and family have ewwed and awwed over pictures that I've taken. When I dropped my P&S Kodak two years ago, my husband talked me into stepping up to a DSLR. I've always e-mailed and showed off pictures of my kids and horses. It became custom even with the P&S that I take the family pictures. Last year, I was approached by friends to do a series of images for their new business. They told me what they would like to see and I gave them lots to choose from. This project took a year. Most of the images they chose weren't even images they asked for, they were one's I'd taken for my own pleasure. Then I was asked by parents to do pictures of the kids playing ball. From there, parents wanted family portraits. Family recommended me to friends for weddings. I've always been very open that I am new and not a professional. Everything I've done has been word of mouth from friends and family, and I charged for my gas or for equipment needed to do the job.

In March, the Wildcatters Bowling and Spuds Sports Grille opened and my photography requests have boomed. I'm turning down jobs right and left. Mainly the jobs that don't interest me much. I had business cards made in March because the managers of the center wanted to have them to pass out if someone asked who the artist was.

I have a full time job. It's great pay, I can goof off some a couple of days a week and it has great benefits. I'm the only one that has benefits, so if I quit my job, then we would have to buy benefits. I'm not at my full time job cause we need the money. I figured it up, and with the jobs in the last month that I've turned down, I could have paid for benefits for one month. I know that things probably won't be this busy all the time. I feel like I still have alot to learn. My husband told me last night to start talking to whoever I needed to to go full time with photography. I'm honestly scared to do this. I feel like I'm still trying to find my knitch. I have portable studio lights, but I really haven't had a desire to even play with them much. I love outdoor shots and I'm not fond of the stiff posed studio stuff that is done in this area. I think thats one of the reasons I'm getting so much business. I'm on a fence and don't really know what I want. Two days ago, I was happy to turn down the business and just do my thing when I wanted and keep my full time job. I never figured my husband would ever encourage me to start my own business. I don't like the idea of working weekends much. I have two little kids and my husband is out of town alot during the week. I want that time with them.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or stories or words of advice to help point me in the right direction, that is if there is a right direction.

[kachina]

Start simple...

Are you an entrepreneur? Take a TEST

Do you have access to capital? It will take more than you think. Develop a business plan and talk to your banker or CPA.

Can you, and your family, handle the stress of not knowing whether or not you will be able to pay bills each month during start-up?

[Ropinamoment]

Bills for our family isn't a problem. We can more than survive on my husbands income. I only work right now for the benefits. We could pay for benefits, but that cuts out "fun" money and the money we are applying to pay off things early. We don't have credit card debt, only vehicles and our home. We do however have a dream of getting a place that is more land and building a larger home. We have out grown our current home. My desk in nestled into a corner of the dinning room. It's so cramped, that I prefer to sit on the couch with my laptop and I have a printer cable run that drapes over the arm of the couch to print. It's hard for me to get things done at home with the kids. I have a girl that watches my kids and cleans at the house right now. I could put my son in pre-school in the mornings and keep him at home in the afternoons, that would cut costs at home. I wouldn't have anywhere to do studio images if I wanted too.

I took that test and it said to run with it that I'd be a great business person. Cool.

I told my husband that I felt like I would need to talk to a CPA and a lawyer. He suggested that I contact the Small Business Association. Right now, I buy equipment with what I make. I have a separate account for my photography habit. It has paid for it'self this last year besides the camera that my husband bought for me. I should have that paid back to the family account pretty quickly even though he thinks I'm being silly about it.

I work full time and I'm not sure when I'll be able to even speak to these people in person. Even though I have goof off time at my job, it's in the office. It is very important that I am here everyday. It's a small company and there are alot of times that I am here alone. With two kids, I don't have hardly any time off left to take. I'm going to do what research I can from the net here at work first. I'm not one to take leaps and I hate getting my hopes crushed, I don't get my hopes up very often. This feels like it could be one of those times.

[Clint_Smith]

I scored 96!

[Outlaw]

It sounds like you enjoy your work, are excited about expanding your photography business, but might not want a lot of the background worries, stress, and requirements that full-time entails.

Two immediate thoughts come to mind, both adages: 1) If you have more business than you can handle, your prices are too low, and 2) Turning a hobby into a career can quickly ruin both.

I'm a big proponent of building a photography business in your community by starting out part-time, kind of like you are doing now. I've grown to the point that my part-time business is every bit as 'formal' as a full-time business, basically just with different hours.

You might take the approach of becoming more formal with your business while keeping your day job, which sounds pretty sweet. So long as you aren't desperate to get away from the 9-5 grind, grow your business part-time until you have enough history to go to a CPA with numbers and data and see what the odds are you can go full-time and quickly replace the money and benefits your day job provides.

In the mean time, it's never a bad thing to be too in-demand, and I don't know what you charge, but perhaps consider raising your rates a notch until you reach a comfortable balance of paid work and busy schedule.

Whatever you do, maintain your excitement, enthusiasm, and love for your work! You may learn that you like things the way they are, that you don't want to make a career out of photography, or that starting your own business in photography is your dream. Personally, the latter is true of me, and what I've worked toward for years. Enjoy!

[Ropinamoment]

Since March, I have priced things out comparable or even higher than the local studios. My wedding price is lower, but I don't shoot with a second shooter and I've only done one small one since March. The most popular studio in town is constantly busy, 3/4 of the portraiture business I've been approached with said they liked my style better or were upset that she couldn't fit them in in a timely manner. Most of these people I've had to turn down cause I can't get them done in a timely manner with my full time job. Also, I don't enjoy that work as much as the sports and corporate work. Right now, I'm covered up in baseball collages. The parents weren't happy with the group shots (which I turned down cause of time) and begged me to do collages of the kids action shots that I took. They are paying 3 times what they paid for the group shots for one of my collages and understand that it may be a month before they see them. I suggested that they ask for a re-shoot from the other photographer and they didn't want to even bother. I have a couple of corporate jobs, art work for conference rooms and showrooms. I charge them for my time and mileage to take the images of their equipment, then I mark up the printing and framing. I charge them for proofs. Once my photos went up in the center, I felt that I needed to consider it like a part time business.

I'm overwhelmed. It's turn business away or quit my full time job. I like the corporate stuff I'm doing. I like the PS work and sports shots of the kids. Both play with my creative side. I like the kids shots in the park or backyard. I'm not fond of weddings. It's hard to say no to weddings cause there is so much stigma attached to them, but I'd prefer to not do weddings. As you can tell, I fond of the more relaxed jobs. Right now, I have the luxury of turning those down. I thought about stepping back and going back to hobby. I had every intention to do that till last night when my husband offered the quit your job scenario. I feel like people are pushing me to do studio/portraiture cause I'm getting bombarded with the question of why not the last two weeks. I don't want to do it if I have to have a studio to survive. The one thing I hate about my full time job is that I'm inside all day.

My husband said that a studio would be there if I need it, and as an office for me, like a store front. He said that I don't have to do all my shoots in the studio.

[Outlaw]

I think most photographers would give a leg for the kind of good business that's coming to you. That's awesome!

It sounds like you may be doing something so right that you have the luxury of doing what you want; so the key may be to sit down, clear your head, take some self-time and just think about what it is that -you- want. If corporate and kids are your passion, and there's enough of that business around, then make that your focus and niche. Only do other work when you feel it will be worth it to help support the work you enjoy most. Many photographers hate weddings, but do them to help pad the books for the work they enjoy more; or they price those services so high that if anyone did bite, it would be more than worth it in cash alone.

I will say again though, even taking into consideration what your competition charges, if you're turning away a lot of work, your prices are under your value in your market's eyes.

How about a bit of evaluation? I'm curious to know what it is you feel makes you such a popular photographer, someone people are willing to pay a premium for? Customer service, attitude, personality, quality of images, expediency, product quality... There must be something, or a few specific things, which are making you so popular. Is it you, your market, your competition, or a mix?

Establishing your strengths, weaknesses, desires and hates, and an honest vision of how you fit in your market, why, and how secure that position is, may give you a better personal feeling for whether you want to go full-time.

It sounds like you have great talent and attitude and a great opportunity! And putting your thoughts and feelings here is a great way to explore your own feelings through what your good fellow TPF'ers have to share or offer in response.

[Ropinamoment]

Thank you so much Outlaw for you responses!

Why do they like me? I'm being told that my images are not the norm for what you see in this area. They like the out of the box thinking I use. I see stuff in a way that they don't see it. Parents say they love the relaxed look of my pictures compared to the studio shots. I'm offering something that others don't offer. There is no one in town that will cover a little league game and produce an action collage of your child. I prefer those to the group shot and individual posed 8x10 for $12. I was in love with the fact that I could do that myself since no one here offered stuff like that. Word of mouth moves fast in a small town. My product quality is excellent and very few people don't like me.

I also forgot to add that I do a lot of Western Art. I love that part. I've done several sessions of people's horses. Why buy the same picture Bob bought when you can have a gorgeous image of you own loved one on the wall? I think I'm just offering what no one else is offering.

I know the wedding business is because I am cheaper and it's always been a friend or friend of a relative.

I feel that I'm turning down work cause I don't do the job full time and I don't like to leave people hanging for months for prints. I also value my family time and in no way want to put them out when I already work full time. I know my limits. I probably could have done all of it besides days that conflicted like a motorcycle rally and wedding for a friend.

It's nearly 5! I have to quit typing and head home! I'll be back. Thank you for thoughts and making me think.

[Outlaw]

Do you have concerns, and/or a contingency plan, and/or a business plan in place to maintain your current level of popularity and potential workload?

You would likely see great success going full-time right now, obviously, but it takes a lot of forward thinking and a plan for growth and stability to maintain that success over time and against new competition that may pop up. What will you do, and where will your business be, when the next You in your community shows up and takes the show...and your customers.

If you haven't already, perhaps pick up a couple of books on business plans and start-up business ventures. Once you've drawn up a business plan, hand it to a CPA to review, then weigh your options. If you can survive that process, I don't think there would be any doubt as to whether or not you should go full-time.

But that's a bit laborious and dull, as most safe and practical things are. If your passion, interest, desire, and good sense tells you to do it...do it.

Caveat: Don't let excitement cloud your vision. Before you put in your two weeks notice, take your thoughts, numbers, etc., to a CPA or someone with strong business acumen for an honest third-person evaluation. I cannot tell you how many stupid things I've done, thinking I had been conservative and honest with myself, that really were just acts of unbridled enthusiasm.

[Ropinamoment]

Thank you so much for your time James!

I do have concerns and I don't have a contingency plan yet. I've found some sample business plans online and I've got a call into the SBA.

There is two studios in town. One has been here 50 years, the other has been here 15-20 years. I've never met anyone thats used the older studio within the last 5 years. The younger studio is swamped. She not only does the studio, but does most all the little league sessions. Coaches are very upset with the fact that they have to schedule very far in advance to get their team done and some teams have ended up not getting it done at all. Our town is expanding rapidly with the expansion of the refinery. There is another photographer in town that handles the paper's work and he has a studio in a neighboring town.

I definitely need to take a hard look at marketing and how I'll handle future change. Thank you for bringing that thought to light. I'm constantly trying to learn new techniques and develop new ideas.

[CobyPhoto]

Shelly,

All good advice in here. The one thing that bothers me about your thread is the Title..."Pushed into business." BE SURE this is what you want to do, if it is as you say and you are pushed into business for whatever reason and you are not completely confident that you want to do this, you are setting yourself up for problems.

I would start slowly and not get alot of overhead involved, and stay away from the SBA loan track if you can. (Look for a bank that will handle your loan and not the SBA.) Chances are, if you have a good, solid plan and the SBA will lend, then a bank will be willing to do the same.

I don't know if you are already charging or not at this time, but take in to account that you will have to raise those prices considerably to "make money" if you start working this as a for profit business. You don't have to be as high as those around you, but you do need to be in that range. They don't just arbitrarially set those prices...insurance, equipment, taxes, etc. force them to do this.

By all means, consult a CPA. I am a CPA and have a degree in Finance & Accounting and I still consult a CPA on matters. (I don't practice accounting 24/7 so therefore I am not up to date or as knowledgeable as someone who does.)

Oh and one last thing..."I value my family time" I belive is how you put it, this endeavor will TERRORIZE that. Owning and operating your own business means YOU have to do everything. During those peak seasons, I am in the studio working from 8:00am till midnight during the week, many times. To grow and develop your business into something profitable, that is what it takes.

CJ

[Ropinamoment]

Coby, you make a very good point! I do feel pushed, I feel pushed to open a studio, and I feel pushed to take on more jobs than I can handle with a full time job and kids. My husband is encouraging me to take every job that comes at me and is disappointed when I don't. He's not here alot cause of his job, so I can't count on him to be here for the kids when I have a job. It breaks my heart to push them off to a sitter at night and the weekends too. I might be willing to do a trade off if I can take time during the day every so often to go to school events. Right now with my full time job, I hardly ever make it to things like that. If I could, then I wouldn't feel so bad about having someone watch them in the evenings some. Thats one of the issues weighing heavy on my mind. Am I ready to have a go at this?

Thank you for the thought about the bank versus the SBA! I never thought of it like that!

I really appreciate all the well thought out posts, you have given me lots to think over and thats what I needed.

[darktiger]

Originally Posted by Clint_Smith

I scored 96!

Same here......But then again I cheated(well not really, but I am almost done with my MBA). Doing it so I can be a entrepreneur.

[Ropinamoment]

Well, last night this thought came to mind. I think what I want to do is quit my full time job. Keep doing the photography part time. I think I want to take some business management and accounting classes at the local community college this fall. I feel like I need more training in how to properly run a business, or atleast I'd feel more comfortable with this all if I had more than my 1993 high school accounting class under my belt. I think this weekend, I'll run through the home numbers and the photography numbers and run it all past my husband. I also feel that it would give me some time to reflect and relax before taking on such a huge move. I don't want to be at my current job forever, it's boring and not a challenge.

Thank you all for your time and responses! I'll update as things progress! You have given me lots of awesome things to think about.